Results
 

FC Poloboc (Mda)

3

V

0

AFC Blue Boys (Pol)

 

It was Cup Final time in Portugal. After 51 games of football we came down to the most important of them all. Game 52, the match that would determine the 2023 Barcelona Veterans champions. Who would take over from Alea Iacta Est (Pol) as the late Summer Veterans Tournament holders?

This is how we lined-up:

FC Poloboc (Mda)

Best appearance to date: 2023 Mallorca Veterans runners-up

Record today: Played 7, Won 6, Drawn 0, Lost 1.

Goal difference today: 16-3

Current unbeaten run: 6 games.

Today's top goalscorer: Veaceslav Borta (4)

Clean sheets: 4

AFC Blue Boys (Pol)

Best appearance to date: 2022 Barcelona Fives & 2023 Mallorca Veterans Cup SF.

Record today: Played 7, Won 4, Drawn 2, Lost 1.

Goal difference today: 14-8

Current unbeaten run: 1 game.

Today's top goalscorer: Lukasz Kowaluk, Marcin Zaluga (5)

Clean sheets: 1

What was interesting about our two finalists was that we had the two second placed teams in the group phase in the Cup Final with both group winners despatched. It shows what a strong and competitive tournament we had today.

These two teams had met before just 5 months ago at the 2023 Mallorca Veterans Tournament. Then it was the Cup Semi-Final where FC Poloboc secured a narrow 2-1 win. Today, these two teams were contesting the showpiece final.

If you looked at the statistics today then arguably FC Poloboc were favourites with the most games won, current form with 6 games unbeaten, most goals, less conceded and more clean sheets. However, none of that mattered when the two teams set foot on the pitch. All that mattered was what happened on the pitch over the course of the next period. Both teams would give it their absolute all and we would be treated to two great teams playing the game in a superb spirit. Whoever lost would be disappointed but would congratulate their conqueror. Of that, we would have no doubt.

 
 
 

As the referee blew the whistle for kick-off it was FC Poloboc who assumed the ascendency when they opened the scoring through Dani. A 1-0 lead is never safe in these events and with AFC Blue Boys contesting 4 penalty shoot-outs in 6 tournaments to date, an equalizer was never far away. FC Poloboc would have been grateful then when they doubled their lead through Victor Zagorneanu to make it 2-0. Not only did it bring them much closer to the title on the scoreboard but it also meant they were able to control the game which they did with assuredness. AFC Blue Boys had to do all the chasing whilst FC Poloboc just needed to control the possession and the tempo. It was something they did brilliantly and their performance was rewarded with a third goal. It was a second of the game for Zagorneanu who finished as his team's top marksman for the day.

The match finished 3-0 and FC Poloboc has won it. The 2023 Mallorca Veterans Runners-Up had become the 2023 Barcelona Veterans winners! It was a great season with 2 European Cup Finals culminating in taking home the winners trophy from Catalunya!

Our commiserations go to AFC Blue Boys who were runners-up in a Cup Final for the first time following 2 Cup Semi-Final exits. They were inching closer and closer to that first prize. They could not have done much more today but FC Poloboc just had too much for them in the Cup Final. Another great performance from the boys.

Our congratulations go to FC Poloboc on becoming the first ever winners of a eurofootballfives.com event from Moldova. If they continue to play like this it could be the first of many titles.

 
 
 
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